For the last two-plus seasons, the Brooklyn Nets have been all about creating buzz and a championship climate. Mikhail Prokhorov and General Manager Billy King spent money endlessly, through trades and free agency, in hopes of capturing the Larry O’Brien Trophy and becoming New York’s most beloved team.
However, multiple injuries and subsequent departures have left this year’s Nets team with a drastically different hope: making the playoffs in a newly realigned Eastern Conference. King let Paul Pierce and Shaun Livingston move on, and parted ways with former head coach Jason Kidd. Now, with a new look backcourt, and healthier versions of Deron Williams and Brook Lopez, Brooklyn and head coach Lionel Hollins will begin their climb back into the upper echelon of the east.
"“I like the fact that everybody is talking about other teams,” King said at an NBA Cares event on Monday. “Let us focus and do our work. Two years in a row, it was something we created ourselves. We beat our own drum. This year it’s more of let’s just play basketball.”"
King lured the duo of Kevin Garnett and Pierce from Boston last season, giving up a suite of players and draft picks in the process. Before that, he traded for Joe Johnson and his erroneous contract, while extending Williams’ deal for nearly $100 million. With front office decision making much in doubt, King has scaled back his wheeling and dealing this season, and it’s not like he had much wiggle room. Brooklyn is $18 million into the luxury tax.
"“Our goal is not to be where we were [with payroll],” King said. “We got there last year, but that wasn’t the intent when we started.”"
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Last season, the team had a moderate amount of success, capturing the the sixth seed in the east and advancing past the first round of the playoffs, albeit suffering blow after blow with injuries. For the past few weeks, Williams and Lopez have been practicing and working out at the Nets’ practice facility in East Rutherford, N.J. With the defensive-minded Hollins now in the fold, and an apparent change in offensive style, the Nets look to push the pace and stay ultra-competitive in 2014-15.
Lopez looks to be an important part of the offense this year, perhaps the focal point, and rightfully so. The 26-year-old has averaged 18 points, seven rebounds and two blocks; on 50 percent shooting in his six-year, NBA career. An indication Lopez will likely see the ball a lot, Hollins’ offense enjoyed two, highly productive big men in Memphis; Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.
According to King, Lopez participated in his first 5-on-5 game Monday. Another interesting note, King says Lopez, who lost weight this offseason to ease the pressure on his foot, will not participate in two-a-days. The Nets open training camp on Saturday.